Draft regulator



Jan. 31, 1933.

E. E. RANDALL DRAFT REGULATOR Filed April 30, 1931 2 sneeis-sneet 1 amnion Jan. 31, 1933. E E, RANDALL 1,895,554

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed April 50, 193]. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Z// Q A id 46 l 'Jwmntoz EERafida ZZ Patented Jan. 31 1933 UNITED STATES EDISON E. RANDALL, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS DRAFT REGULATOR Application filed April 30, 1931. Serial No. 534,028.

This invention relates to heat regulating devices and more particularly to a device adapted to control the dampers of a furnace.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of thiskind which is adapted to automatically shut off the draft of a furnace after a predetermined period of t1 me.

Another object of this inventlon 1s to provide a device of this kind which maybe remotely positioned from the furnace or heater and connected thereto by suitable flexible connections, the device holding the dampers in open position for a period of time and releasing the dampers for closing thereof,

'35 so as to shut off the furnace after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs, wherein Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, connected to a conventional furnace;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the draft control device in operative position, and

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on th line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to .the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates generally a furnace of conventional construction which may be eitheir a hot air or hot water furnace, which is provided with a swingable draft door 11 and a check-draft door '12, the check draft 12 being interposed in the smoke pipe 13. A chain or flexible connecting member 14: connects the draft door 11 with the check draft 12, the chain being trained over pulleys or the like, and this chain is of such a length so that when it is pulled upwardly, the draft 11 will be opened and the check draft 12 closed, and when it is released, the draft door 11 will drop and the check draft 12 be raised. In order to facilitate this movement,

a weight 15 is connected to the flexible member 14. In order to remotely control the operation of the draft 11 and the check draft 12, I have provided an automatically operated draft operating member, generally d esignated as 16, which is preferably mounted on the floor of the dwelling above the furnace at a convenient location.

The draft operating member 16 comprises a base 17 and a pair of outstanding posts 18 5 and l9, which are mounted on the base 17 in spaced relation to each other, thevposts 18 and'19 being disposed adjacent'each end of the base 17. An elongated cylinder 20 is mounted between the posts '18 and 19, one end of the cylinder 20 being closed by a plate 21 whlch is provided with an axial recess 22 for receiving the end of an adjustable shaft 23 which is mounted in the post 18. The shaft 23 is threadably mounted in the post 18 and a lock nut 24 engages about the threaded portion of the bolt or shaft 23, so asto'hold it in adjusted position.

A plunger 25 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 20, this plunger 25 being provided with a plurality of bleeder openings 26 therethrough, and a stem or shaft 27 is secured to the plunger 25 and extends outwardly through a closure plate'28 which is mounted onthe upper end of the cylinder 20. This 7 closure plate 28 is provided'with an opening 29 therethrought The cylinder 20 is adapted to have a liquid positioned therein, this liquid being relatively Viscous. A mov ablevalve plate 30 is loosely mounted on the extended portion 31 of the shaft 27, this valve plate 30 being of sufficient diameter to overlie the openings 26 when one face of the valve plate 30 abuts against the lower face of the plunger 25. An expanding spring 32 is disposed about the stem 27, one end of the spring 32 engaging against the closuremember 28 and the oppositeend engaging against the upper face of the plunger 25 so as to constantly .urge the plunger 25 -dow-nwardly within the cylinder 20. Thestem 27 is slidably mounted inthe post 19 and extends'upwardly therethrough, the upper end ofthe stem beingprovided with a collar 33' which is secured to the stem 27 by means of a set screw 34, or the like.

A guide rod 35 is mounted in spaced relation to the base 17 being mounted in a pair of outstanding posts or supports 36, which are mounted on the base 17. This guide bar 35 is disposed in parallel relation to the cylinder and a slide 37 is slidably mounted on the rod 35. One end of the flexible member 14 is secured to a hook 38 carried by the slide 37. This slide 37 is provided with an outstanding pin 39 which is adapted to engage a pawl member 40 which is pivotally secured to the base 17, and this pawl member is provided with an inwardly extending arm 41 having a reduced extension 42 disposed in the path of the collar 33. A cushioning spring 43 is disposed about the guide bar 35, and an adjustable collar 44 is disposed about the guide bar 35 and engages against one end of the cushioning spring 43, this spring 43 being adjustable longitudinally of the guide bar 35, so as to limit the downward movement of the slide. 37. Through the use of the adjustable collar 44 which is mounted on the guide bar 35, the draft membersconnected to the slide 37 can be so adjusted as to either entirely close the drafts upon downward movement of the slide 37 or to leave these drafts partly open, as may be desired, depending on weather conditions.

In the operation of this device, the cylinder 20 is disposed in substantially vertical position on one face of a wall or the like, and the chain 14 connected to the draft and check valve of the furnace. A suitable liquid is disposed within the cylinder 20, and the plunger may be moved upwardly by grasping the collar 33. The upward movement of the plunger 25 will cause the valve plate to move away from the lower face of the plunger 25 so as to permit the liquid within the cylinder 20 to pass through the openings 26 in theplunger 25. The slide 37 may be moved upwardly on the slide bar 35, so that the outstanding pin 39 will engage the pawl 40. In this position, the slide 37 will be maintained in uppermost position until the collar 33 moves downwardly into engagement with the extension 42.

The downward'movement of the plunger 25 is caused by the spring 32, and the valve plate 30 will operate to permit only a relatively small amount of liquid to pass through the apertures 26 so that the downward movement of the plunger 25 will be relatively slow. This movement can be readily controlled by changing the viscosity of the liquid within the cylinder 20. When the collar 33 strikes the extension 42, it will force the pawl outwardly and away from the pin 39, so that the slide 37 may gravitatingly drop on the slide bar 35 and contact with the cushioning spring 43. The downward movement of the slide 37 will lower the draft 11 and open the check draft 12. In this manner, the time within which the draft is left open may be so regulated that a proper temperature will be maintained within the building.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of constructionand design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim 2-- 1. A draft controlling means comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, retarding means carried by the cylinder and the piston for retarding the movement of the piston in one direction, a spring engaging the piston for constantly urging the piston in said one direction, a stem secured to the piston and extending outwardly of one end of the cylinder, a collar on the stem, a guide rod, a slide on the rod and adaptedto be connected to a draft means, a cushioning spring carried by the guide rod for engagement with the slide to cushion the movement thereof in one direction, and a slide holding member disposed in the path of said collar, for movement in released position upon movement of the piston and collar in said one direction.

2. A draft controlling means comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, retarding means for retarding the movement of the piston in one direction, a stem secured to the piston and extending outwardly of one end of the cylinder, a spring about the stem and engaging at one end against the piston and at the opposite end against an end of the cylinder to constantly urge the piston in one direction, a collar on the outer end of the stem, a guide rod disposed in spaced relation to the cylinder, a slide on the rod and adapted to be connected to a draft means, a slide holding member disposed in the path of said collar for movement into released position upon movement of the piston and collar in said one direction, a slide cushioning spring mounted on the rod for engagement with the slide upon movement thereof in one direction, and a collar adjustable on the rod and engaging one end of the latter spring to adjust the spring on the rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

EDISON E. RANDALL. 

